The Superstition Issue
The general root of superstition: namely, that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss; and commit to memory the one, and forget and pass over the other. - Francis Bacon
What I-O Folks Are Reading
Selections from published articles, articles in press, and other academic resources.
Decision-Making By Rabbit’s Foot
This study focuses on the phenomenon of using superstition as a decision heuristic in strategic decision-making. We introduce the construct of superstitious heuristic, which is defined as a decision shortcut based on superstitious beliefs. The superstitious heuristic is commonly used in strategic decision-making in various cultures and can lead to seemingly puzzling decisions that have strategic consequences for the firm.
The Superstitious Heuristic in Strategic Decision Making. Journal of Management.
Does Anyone Have a Magnifying Glass So I Can See That Effect Size?
We show that superstitions—beliefs without scientific grounding—impact the investment and risk-taking of Chinese firms. We focus on widely held beliefs in bad luck during one’s “zodiac year,” which occurs on a 12-year cycle around a person’s birth year, to study superstitions and risk taking. We first show a direct correspondence between zodiac year and risk taking via survey data: respondents are two percentage points more likely to favor no-risk investments if queried during their zodiac year.
Superstition and Risk Taking: Evidence from “Zodiac Year” Beliefs in China. Management Science.
And Another Bad Thing About Ostracism
Spoiler alert: It does.
By adopting a multimethod approach, three studies tested (a) whether ostracism increases superstitious tendencies through thwarted perceived control, (b) whether the dispositional need for closure moderates the effect of ostracism on superstitious tendencies and (c) whether restoring ostracized people's thwarted control weakens their superstitious tendencies.
The Myth of Regaining Control: Ostracism Increases Superstitious Tendencies. British Journal of Psychology.
What Everyone Else is Reading
Articles, books, and resources from the popular business press.
Getting Lucky
Superstitions that may be considered “good” tend to be about a belief in the unstable resource of luck. Good luck superstitions include lucky numbers, lucky pennies, lucky horseshoes, finger-crossing, itchy right palms, and many more. These good luck superstitions are believed to help superstitious believers to relieve their anxiety about unknown situations.
Superstition: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Psychology Today.
Skipping 13
After all, it is the belief in the power of superstition that provides the differentiating element. Like the emperor’s clothes, self-belief vanishes upon the realization that mystical powers don’t influence performance.
Why Superstition Works in Business. Harvard Business Review.
Superstitions of Top Performers
In 1982, basketball superstar Michael Jordan scored the winning jump shot that brought his college team, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, their first NCAA championship since 1957, and launched his rise to stardom. From that game on and into his days as an NBA player, Jordan wore his UNC shorts for good luck under his Chicago Bulls uniform.
Friday the 13th: Superstitions of Super Successful People. Entrepreneur.
Amazon Best Sellers: Business & Money
Links lead to short summaries.
Elon Musk, Walter Isaacson
Atomic Habits, James Clear
Astor, Anderson Cooper & Katherine Howe
Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert T. Kiyosaki
Becoming Coachable, Scott Osman, Jacquelyn Lane, & Marshall Goldsmith
Construct of the Week
A psychological construct relevant to work psychology.
Superstitious Heuristic: A decision shortcut based on superstitious beliefs.
The Research Quiz
B.F. Skinner attempted to show how superstitions form by experimenting with what animals?